Running head: PLASTIC RECYCLING 1
DISCUSSION ON PLASTIC RECYCLING
Student’s Name
Course Title
October 5, 2018
PLASTIC RECYCLING 2
Recycled Plastics and their polymers
Recycling of plastic is one of the most important processes in the plastics industry. This
is because of the role the process plays in the conservation of the environment. In this process,
the plastic materials are re-processed into better and useful products.
Most of the plastics, which are currently being recycled, include non-biodegradable whose effect
especially on marine life is fatal. The commonly used plastics in the recycling are polypropylene,
polystyrene, and polyethylene. These forms of the plastic possess the properties that make it
easier to recycle .This is known as the plastic recyclability, which is determined by many factors
such as the health effect of the process, the composite material that makes up the plastic and
eventually the cost, (Mantia, 2015).
The recycled plastics are made up of the following polymers:
i.
Polyethylene terephthalate (PET)
ii.
High-density polyethylene (HDPE)
iii.
Polyvinyl chloride (PVC)
iv.
Polypropylene(PP) and others
Closed-loop recycling and principal benefit
Closed loop recycling is a process that constitutes a collection of post-consumer wastes,
recycling and eventually making new and better products. Closed-loop recycling is a production
process, done my plastics using manufacturers and producers in order to sustain and make use of
their business. Not necessary that the new product is of the same type, the recycled material can
be used to make other items such as clothes and so. For this process to work successful, then
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every stakeholder such as the consumers must work together with the manufacturer in order to
reclaim the wasted products/materials.
The principal benefit of the closed-loop recycling is to decrease the reliance on the raw
material used for making plastics and thus to make the business sustainable. With the increasing
cost of acquiring new raw material for the production of plastics and other items due to the
fluctuation of oil prices, there has been the increased cost of polythene production, subsequently
resulting in increasing of the market price for same product. In Order to counter the above effect,
there comes the need for the closed-loop recycling in order to save the industry, (Duflou, 2014).
Other than the above mentioned beneficially, closed-loop recycling is useful to humans and the
environment.
Are most of our current recycling closed loop or not?
Yes, because the method can recycle larger proportions of plastic wastes and helps the
affected companies to sustain their business. This promotes not only the company economically,
but instead, it promotes environmental conservation and designing the industries, which have the
capability of recycling large proportions of plastic wastes in a most economical way. In addition,
much government has embarked on creating policies and regulations that make surely closedloop recycling occurs.
On the other hand, open loop recycling is also common in some of the areas of the world;
this is because of the inefficiencies of their government systems, lack of policies and regulation
and the expensive cost of recycling the product /materials into a useful item. Closed loop
recycling is also uncommon due to the deteriorating quality of the material. This makes it
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impossible for the companies to use the same material to make the same item repeatedly.
Eventually, the item moves out of the loop, (Kaye, 2013).
What happens to plastics that are not recycled in the closed loop fashion?
The closed-loop fashion ensures that there is the maximum use of resources, less adverse
effects on the environment, reduced waste regenerated, efficient use of scarce resources such as
water and energy, but what happened to the other plastics?.
If the plastics are not recycled using the closed loop fashion, then they are either recycled
in open loop fashion or no recycled at all. Why they are recycled using the open loop fashion the
material are used to make new items severally, but due to various reason they are eventually
excluded and becomes a waste, (Ernst Worrell, 2014). Some of the reason that can make a plastic
material to be excluded from the closed loop fashion or the plastic material not to be recycled at
all are outlined below.
i.
Some of those materials can be dissembled into different components that are later on
used in repairing or substituting.
ii.
Other plastics materials are converted into organic matter, which contains biological
nutrients such as cotton. These products have chemicals, which are non-hazardous,
which are subjected to recycling and biodegradation. These products are useful to
human health, ecosystem and animal health. The end user for recycling and sorting
recollects some products.
iii.
Finally, the plastic material is safely disposed of by following the set standards as per
the local authority.
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References
Peeters, J. R., Vanegas, P., Tange, L., Van Houwelingen, J., & Duflou, J. R. (2014). Closed loop
recycling of plastics containing Flame Retardants. Resources, conservation, and recycling, 84,
35-43.
Ernst Worrell, M. R. (2014). Handbook of Recycling: State-of-the-art for Practitioners, Analysts,
and Scientists. Newnes.
Kaye, L. (2013, 3 22). Retrieved from https://www.triplepundit.com/2013/03/open-looprecycling/
Mantia, F. P. (2015). Recycling of Plastic Materials. ChemTec Publishing.
Plastics, P. (2018, 9 12). Retrieved from https://www.plasticsmakeitpossible.com/aboutplastics/types-of-plastics/what-are-plastics/
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